As we head into the new year, I am becoming increasingly excited for my foal that is due this April. Sky has had a straightforward pregnancy thus far, and I am fortunate that she is a relatively easy keeper. However, she still requires prenatal care as she grows our little bundle of joy, which is due on April 24, 2023. As the day on the calendar moves closer to her due date, my dream is quickly becoming a reality!
Those of you who have read the past installments of my blog might remember that this is a Dual Reyish foal that my mother and I are aiming to compete in cowboy shooting events in the future. If you would like to get caught up or would like to refresh your memory regarding my breeding adventure, I encourage you to revisit my blog posts, Breeding Chronicles Part I: Considerations When Deciding to Breed My Mare, Breeding Chronicles Part II: Selecting a Stallion, and Breeding Chronicles Part III: The Process of Breeding My Mare.
Nutritional Needs
Caring for a pregnant mare is much like caring for any other horse, however, some essential practices need to be implemented. To support the growing fetus, Sky requires increased nutrition. While her normal ration of high-quality hay and pasture supported her body condition throughout the beginning of her pregnancy, the size of her growing foal will increase dramatically in the last trimester, meaning that she will need to increase her caloric intake. Allison J. Stewart, BVSc (Hons), Ph.D., DACVIM-LAIM, DACVECC, of the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland explains, “A mare weighing 1,000–1,200 lb can be expected to gain 150–200 pounds during the last trimester with the proper diet.” We may need to increase her forage supply and supplement it with a 14-16% protein grain to facilitate this.
Dr. Stewart states, “A body condition score of 6.5–7.5 is ideal for most pregnant mares at foaling.” A mare on the thinner side may have difficulty producing milk, while a mare that is too heavy may develop laminitis. You can learn more about the Henneke Body Condition Scores on our blog post, Determining Your Horse’s Body Score.
Because we live in the South, hay and grass from fescue (a type of grass) can be relatively common. While fescue is typically safe for horses to eat, pregnant mares must not eat fescue during the final months of their pregnancy. Generally, vets recommend that your mare should not have access to fescue for 90 days before delivery. To be on the safe side, we removed fescue from Sky’s diet once we planned to breed her. Fescue is known to contain a fungus that helps it thrive in drought conditions. However, the fungus also releases a toxin when the grass is ingested. If broodmares eat fescue, they can develop fescue toxicosis. Fescue toxicosis can interfere with hormone production during the labor and delivery process, which often leads to prolonged pregnancies, difficulty delivering, a thickening of the placenta (which may suffocate the foal), and a failure to produce colostrum and milk.
In addition to healthy grasses, Sky has had consistent access to fresh, clean water. Pregnant mares drink slightly more water than other horses, but their water requirements increase dramatically after delivery. Some vets estimate that lactating mares need 70% more water than their non-lactating counterparts! Sky also has free-choice mineral salts that she can access to maintain proper hydration and sodium levels.
Medical Attention
Before her pregnancy, Sky was routinely seen by a veterinarian to ensure that she was in the best condition possible, and this has continued throughout her pregnancy. As recommended by our veterinarian, Sky received typical spring shots before she was bred last year. She will not have her next set of spring shots until after she foals.
There are some vaccinations that Sky will receive while she is pregnant. She was vaccinated against Equine Herpes Virus (EHV or Rhinopneumonitis virus) at five- and seven months and, and will receive additional shots at nine months of gestation. These important immunizations prevent the mare from aborting the foal due to the virus. It also helps guard against the birth of a weak or non-viable foal. Sky will also pass some immunity on to her unborn foal to protect against the respiratory condition in the first months of their life.
Sky is also scheduled for a Five-Way Vaccine in the middle of March. This vaccine protects Sky and her foal from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) Tetanus, Influenza, and Rhinopneumonitis. Typically this shot will be given to the mare approximately 30 days prior to her due date.
Deworming is also essential to proper prenatal care. We dewormed Sky in the fall with Strongid and will deworm her again in the spring with Ivermectin. Fortunately, she shows no signs of worms, so we don’t need to worry about over-deworming her and potentially building up parasite resistance.
While she has had consistent veterinary care, ultrasounds are not performed on horses during pregnancy (unlike human pregnancies). This is because ultrasounds can be invasive to the mare, and they can also introduce potentially harmful bacteria into the reproductive system. While mares can occasionally abort or “slip” the foal, you can generally be confident that your mare is pregnant if she is not demonstrating signs of estrus or heat.
General Care and Conditioning
For us, giving our horses the best care possible is second nature. All of our horses live like kings and queens, receiving whatever they need to thrive. We do our best to ensure that Sky is living in the lap of luxury at our farm!
Sky is turned out on a large 13-acre pasture, with access to her stall at all times. This allows her to move freely and have plenty of exercise. When the weather is bad, we bring all of the horses into the barn but, generally, we allow Sky to determine what is best for her. Pregnant mares must be given ample amounts of turnout, both for their health and the health of the foal.
Many pregnant mares continue to be ridden throughout their pregnancy, helping them to maintain their strength and conditioning levels. However, this has not been the case for Sky. The last time I rode Sky was at the Missouri State Cowboy Shooting Championships this past fall, where we were reserve champions overall! Sky and I were both in the early stages of pregnancy at the time, making the win even more special. Because of my pregnancy, I have taken a hiatus from spending time in the saddle in recent months, but the large pasture has kept Sky well-exercised.
My mother and I have enjoyed this special time with Sky and are truly looking forward to welcoming our new foal onto the farm! Be sure to check back for my upcoming blog post about nominating the foal for incentive programs and sweepstakes (prize money programs within the Quarter Horse and Cutting industries).
To learn more about Maria’s adventure of breeding her mare, Sky, we encourage you to read her other blog posts, Breeding Chronicles Part I: Considerations When Deciding to Breed My Mare, Breeding Chronicles Part II: Selecting a Stallion, and Breeding Chronicles Part III: The Process of Breeding My Mare. If you have a pregnant mare of your own, you may also find our blog, Preparing For Foaling Season, helpful.